Shower curtain rod



May 7, 1940. J. F. CULVER SHOWER CURTAIN ROD Filed July 16, 1938 INVENTOR. J FREEMAN CWZVE'E ATTORNEY.

Patented May 7,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to curtain rods and particularly to rods for supporting shower curtains. I

It is customary in instances where a shower bath attachment is utilized in connection with a bath tub to employ a water proof curtain to prevent water splashing on the floor, which curtain is suspended from a metallic curtain rod extending from one wall to the other above the bath tub.

Inasmuch as the walls of the bathroom are usually of ceramic material, such as tile or the like, it has heretofore been necessary to drill the tile and to employ expansion screws or the like. in order to secure the curtain rod to the walls.

The drilling of the tile is a tedious and dimcult task and great care must be taken to prevent chipping of the glazed surface which would otherwise destroy its decorative appearance.

Also, even after initial anchoring of the curtain rod, it frequently becomes loosened and the expansion bolts or other fastenings pull out of the wall due to settling of the building.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a curtain rod for a shower bath curtain which may be positioned between the tile walls of a bathroom and maintained securely in place without the necessity of employing auxiliary fastening devices.

. Another object of the present invention is the provision of a metallic curtain rod for supporting a shower bath curtain which may be secured between the tile walls of a bathroom-without the necessity of drilling the tile walls.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a metallic curtain rod for supporting a shower bath curtain which may be secured between the tile walls of a bathroom without the necessity of drilling the walls and wherein the curtain rod does not become loosened upon settling or shifting of the walls.

Still further objects of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the 5 art by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bathroom showing the usual bath tub with a shower curtain rod constructed in accordance with the 50 present invention positioned between opposite walls and supporting-a waterproof shower curtain,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showingthe end of the curtain rod of 55 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the end of the curtain rod as shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. 5

Referring now to the drawing in detail a bath tub 5 is shown in Fig. 1 and a chromium plated metallic curtain rod 6, extending between opposite tile walls I and 8, is positioned above the tub for supporting a waterproof shower curtain 9. 10

Each end 'of the shower curtain rod is identical and as shown more 'clearly in the remain ing figures, it is provided with a hexagonal flange I0. As shown in Fig. 3 this flange is provided with an annular opening I! extending there- 15 through which is threaded at i3 and on its flat surface an annular recess i4 is provided for retaining an adhesive gasket or. the like ii, to prevent side slippage of the flange.

A hollow annular collar I6, having a hexag- 2o onal portion I1 and a closed end i8, loosely surrounds the rod 6 and is provided with a threaded portion IQ engaging the threaded portion it of the flange. When the rod 6 projects into the annular collar IS a recess 20 is thus formed be- 2 tween the end of the rod' and the closed end l8 of the collar. In order to compensate for shifting of the walls 1 and 8, due to settling of the building or other causes, a coil spring 22 is compressed within the recess by one end bearing 30 against the closed-end l8 of the annular collar and its other end bearing against a washer 23 which flts the recess 20 considerably closer than does the rod 6 and which washer in effect forms a closure for the end of the rod.

In initially installing the curtain rod 6 of the present invention its length is made equal to the distance between opposing ends of the flanges Ill. The annular collars l6 containing springs 22 and washers 23 are slipped over each end of the rod 6 and screwed completely into the flanges ill for the full length of the thread. The entire assembly from end to end will thus be but a fraction of an inch less than the distance between the walls and 8.

The curtain rod with attached flanges is then held in the desired position between the tile walls and the annular collar l6 unscrewed or backed out of the flange ID. This causes the flat surface of the flange l0 having the adhesive gasket I5 to bear firmly against the wall at each end of the rod. Upon contact of the adhesive gasket IS with the wall a firm engagement is established which prevents further rotation of the flange but enables the annular collar l6 to be rotated until the rod is firmly secured in place. However, should the leverage be too great which would tend to 'cause the flange IE to rotate with the annular collar l8, it may be held against movement with a suitable wrench since both the collar and flange are of hexagonal configuration.

As the annular collar I6 is backed out of the flange it! the coil spring 22 is gradually compressed which thus applies an opposingiorce between the closed end l8 of the collar and thus to the attached flange Hi, and the washer 23 hearing against the end of the rod 6. This opposing force thus holds the entire rod firmly in the desired location between the tile walls and sidewise slippage is prevented by. the adhesive gaskets. Moreover, this tension is always maintained regardless of any shifting of the walls due to settling of the building tending to spread the walls further apart. After the annular collars have been backed out and the rod is firmly in place the collars are locked against further rotation, such as might occur by vibration or the like, by means of a set screw 24 extending through the flange Ill and engaging the annular collars l 6. It thus becomes obvious to those skilled in the art that I have provided a metallic curtain rod for supporting a shower curtain which may be firmly secured in position without the necessity of drilling the tile walls and employing auxiliary fasteners. Moreover, the rod is constantly maintrained under tension so as to retain it in position even should spreading of the walls result due to vided with a fiat terminal surface, friction means in contact with said surface and engageable with a wall to prevent slippage of said flange, an elon-.

gated annular collar provided with an externally threaded portion engaging within said flange, said collar forming a recess for the reception of an end of said rod and operable upon rotation there-.

of to force said flange into firm engagement with said last-named wall, the outer end of the collar being open to receive said rod, a shoulder forming a spring stop extending inwardly from and closely adjacent the inner end of the collar, and a spring disposed in said recess in engagement with said stop and adapted to exert a force against the end of said rod when inserted within annular collar for automatically maintaining said rod tight despite shifting or settling of said walls.

2. A socket for rigidly supporting a curtain rod between walls and for automatically maintaining said rod tight upon settling or shifting of said walls comprising a hollow threaded flange pro-' vided with a flat surface having a recess therein the recess and being tensioned by rotation of said i and forming anannular ring about the periphcry of the fiat surfacev of said flange, an adhesive material disposed in the recess of said flange and engageable with said wall to prevent slippage of said flange and surrounded by said .annular ring portion to conceal said adhesive material, an elongated annular collar provided with a threaded portion initially engaging said flange for its full length and havinga closed end forming a recess for the reception of an end ofsaid rodand' operable upon rotation thereof to force said flange into firm engagement with said .wall,

and a coil spring disposed in said recess and cornpressible uponunscrewing of said annular collar from said flange to exertan opposing force' between the end of said rod and said flange to au-- tomatically retain said flange in firm engagement mi with a wall upon settling or shifting thereof.

J. FREEMAN CULVER. 

